Poets are being pursued by the philosophers today, out of the poverty of philosophy. God damn it, you might think a man had no business to be writing, to be a poet unless some philosophic stinker gave him permission.
William Carlos WilliamsRead
But time in only another liar, so go along the wall a little further: if blackberries prove bitter there'll be mushrooms, fairy-ring mushrooms in the grass, sweetest of all fungi.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that time can be deceptive, but new opportunities will emerge despite challenges.
William Carlos Williams reflects on the nature of time and experience, indicating that while it may mislead us or present us with hardships (symbolized by bitter blackberries), we should keep exploring and moving forward. In doing so, we might discover unexpected joys and delights (represented by the sweet fairy-ring mushrooms). This encapsulates the idea that life is full of ups and downs, but perseverance can lead us to pleasant surprises.
Themes
TimeOpportunityExplorationChangeNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about resilience, you could use this quote to illustrate how challenges can give way to new opportunities.
More from William Carlos Williams
All quotes βFor the beginning is assuredly the end- since we know nothing, pure and simple, beyond our own complexities.
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It was the love of love, the love of swallows up all else, a grateful love, a love of natural, of people, of animals, a love ingengering gentleness and goodness that moved meand that I saw in you
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O frost bitten blossoms, That are unfolding your wings From out the envious black branches. Bloom quickly and make much of the sunshine. The twigs conspire against you! Hear hem! They hold you from behind.
William Carlos WilliamsRead
No opinion can be trusted; even the facts may be nothing but a printer's error.
William Carlos WilliamsRead
It is almost impossible to state what one in fact believes, because it is almost impossible to hold a belief and to define it at the same time.
William Carlos WilliamsRead
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